Singer laments the practice of cowboys trying to tame wild horses, a metaphor for a patriarchal society trying to tame the female free spirit.

Story Behind the Song

In my experience, a man is often attracted to a free-spirited woman only to try to break that woman's spirit so that she will be tamed his way of thinking and living.

Lyrics

Wild Horses

Chorus:
Why must the cowboys
Try to tame all the wild horses?
Why can't they leave them alone
To run wild and run free?
A bridle just reins in their spirit
And soul, leaving sadness.
Saddled with rider a wild horse is not meant to be.

Verse One:
Vines and burrs, not ropes and spurs
Glory in running as
Far as my bright eye can see.
Lean and loose
No pen, no noose
Going wherever the sunshine may be
I lead the way; in my pack I am free
Cavorting and snorting and tossing my mane
If I'm ever trapped I would sure go insane, so, (Chorus)

Verse Two:
Waterfalls, not pens and stalls
Twitching my tail I can
Flick off the flies in my sleep
Sleek and tough
So, fair enough,
You can pen in the cattle, the chicken, the sheep,
I prefer game in the company I keep;
Traveling wherever a cool wind may blow
You can't tempt me with sugar, that's poison you know, so (Chorus)

Verse Three:
Now and then, he?ll come again
I run with the wind so I can?t hear his calls and his cries
It?s no use, won?t be seduced
Keep all your china, your silver, your rings
Too much ground to cover to carry those things
I love running wild, running swift, running free
There?s no bit in the world that is tasteful to me. (Chorus)